What's in it?
[adapted from How Sweet It Is]
8 ounces of mozzarella cheese, cubed
1.5 cups panko bread crumbs
1.5 cups panko bread crumbs
1 tsp Italian seasoning blend
2 egg whites, slightly beaten
approx 4oz Buitoni pesto
Olive oil cooking spray
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 cup of flour
1/2 cup of flour
Tools needed:
Aluminum foil lined baking sheet/pan + wire baking/grilling/cooling rack
Get Cooking!
Cube and freeze your mozzarella 12-24 hours ahead of time. I may or may not have taken a gamble with one batch and frozen them 4-5 hours before making these. It may have worked =) Haha but regardless, if you can freeze them overnight totally do!
To freeze, lay cubes flat on a plate for 15-20 minutes and then move to a plastic baggie or covered bowl to freeze even further. This prevents sticking and also is a fabulous method for freezing fruit and veggies!
Preheat oven to 475F. Keep mozzarella cubes frozen until you have set up your ingredients into dipping bowls and preheated the oven. Combine seasoning blend and panko in a shallow bowl. Keep egg whites, flour, and pesto in separate bowls for dipping.
Dipping order
1. Flour
2. Pesto
3. Egg whites
4. Panko
Move quickly so your balls don't begin to defrost.
Yeah.
After each ball gets it's turn in each bowl, place your completed mozzarella balls on your wire rack (the one you put on top of a aluminum foil lined cookie pan) after spraying/greasing the rack with olive oil.
Once all your balls are in place (this is technical terminology people!) spray them with a light coat of your cooking spray and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown. Enjoy immediately =)
So... How was it?
Paul and I counted them to make sure one of us didn't get more than the other. Somehow we ended up with an odd number of balls so we split the last one down the middle to be fair. Is that a pretty good indicator of how awesome they were? Put it this way -- if we weren't newlyweds we probably would have FOUGHT over them! <3
Don't have pesto on hand? Use your favorite hot sauce!
Though the spicy balls ones were delish, the pesto pretty much ROCKED my world.
In the spirit of mozzarella balls, Brandt made me post this:
Seriously, make these balls. Stat.
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134 Comments - Leave Yours!:
That looks so good. Another great recipe to try!
Well, yum, that pretty much rocks my world. Love of mozzerella? Check. Love of pesto? Check. Love of warm gooey cheesey pesto? Triple check!
-poptart (teehee)
The balls look so freakin good ;) I think pesto panko balls would be my favorite way to eat cheese!! I love me some cheese fondue too. And grilled cheese...and nachos. Don't get me started! hahaha
ok screw this meal...I just want that black and white plate! holy crap that is the cutest thing ever WHERE did you get that!?!
ok back to the meal...that looks amaaaazing. there is nothing better than mozzerella cheese. so are these similar to a mozzerella stick but just a ball?
i liked all of your ball references..especially the frozen ball reference. i laughed out loud lol
can you be my chef? come back to your roots in MA and lets make delicious food together and be foodies
xoxox
I noticed you crossed out spicy...well...you know. No mention of Alec Baldwin, and the infamous NPR Schwetty...well...you know? For shame...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXSyzeVWueI
Although I will say, that looks mighty tasty. Newlywed or not, I'd fight over that last piece!
And my favorite way to eat cheese?? Melted, gooey, and baked. Usually on top of a meal.
Holy wow that looks amazing! I could practically taste them through the screen. I have to make this ASAP, but maybe I'll do it when the husband isn't around so I can have more for me.
haaaaaa... Jason and I are the same way with counting to be even... I think it's a mix of being NERDS and eating really great food! :)
these look SO good... I want them Right Now. love the pesto addition.
totally need to make these for my next partay :)
OH yah. This looks amazing. I'm making these on Sunday. My family will thank me.
Excuse me while I clean up the drool from my keyboard! I love eating cheese in any form, but most especially when it's melted :)
This post is one giant "That's what she said" joke waiting to happen. Awesome :)
HOLY yum! these look delic. and i just love the snl video... hiiiilarious! xoxo jcd :: cornflake dreams
This looks SO good! And I love your black and white plates!!
Well don`t these just look heavenly! Yum!
xo
Oh yes. I need these in my life. Anything cheesy is a clear winner.
Thanks for sharing the recipe!!
(do you make your own pesto, or do you recommend a particular premade kind?)
Okay those look so yummy, I'm definitely going to try!
yum!
Cheeeeeeese!
I do love a good set of balls...
Well...as you know..I don't eat cheese, but that doesn't make this recipe any less fun. I love the tips on freezing fruits and veggies. I actually took a hair dryer to a clump of frozen strawberries this morning.
Thats one of my fave SNL clips!
YUM!!!! i seriously want to eat these right now!!!!
hahaha. I SO wanted to post that video when I did my guest post on oreo balls, pb pretzel balls, and rum balls on whatkatie'sbaking and forgot about it. I'm so glad you did!
Those look delicious! :D
Holy crap, these look freakin' amazing!
This looks AMAZING!
My favorite way to eat cheese is often by itself, or on a thin cracker. Really, ANYWAY will do!
Wow, that looks SO yummy!
Oh YUM!!! Yay for a new idea! Thanks for posting :)
omg these are out of this WORLD!! I love me some cheese sticks, but then you go and add pesto to them?? GENIUS I say!! Totally bookmarking this one!
Um...yummy!!!! I always get hungry over here...haha!!! Looks and sounds delish!
Happy THursday gurl! xxx
ive never been a huge fan of mozzerella sticks.. maybe i need to give them another shot! =) cuz these look so good!
I've never had panko before! Hm...my favorite way to eat cheese is probably in solid chunks or slices (wow that sounds gross!) haha!
OMG, these look amazing! And make me REALLY wish that we ate cheese! Maybe we'll have to make an exception ;)
Is there anything better than melted mozzarella?! These look fab. Oh and that's my fave SNL skit of all time!
hot damn, those mozz balls looks AWESOME
I was praying that you would featured the "Schweaty Balls" SNL clip at the end of this post.
You never disappoint.
Haha.
Balls.
P.S. I like your black and white plate.
http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
Twitter: @GlamKitten88
OMG, this looks so so yummy! And HAHA about Schwetty Balls! Too funny!
Please move in and feed me. I want these NOW!!!!
Love the schwetty balls!!
As soon as I saw that picture with the melty cheese, I knew this was a recipe I need to try! YUM.
O M G
I gained 5 lbs looks at that but it looks SO GOOD.
5 lbs because I'd eat the whole thing, mind you.
mmmmm I love mozz sticks and havent had them in forev! These look amazing!
hehehe, you said balls.
All your recipes are making me hungry!!!! hehehe
I have been on a cheese kick all this week - like it's all I want to eat. A bad week for it, since I should be eating more carbs...
I LOVE that SNL clip. I actually watched it for the first time when I was in high school with my best friend's dad. I was totally uncomfortable the whole time, thinking that he was going to be offended!
These look sinfully delicious!
Well, those look pretty awesome. I love anything with pesto. Especially mozzarella.
Um, I am drooling. Those look like the best comfort food EVER.
oh these look sooooooo sooo good!!! i definately want to try this one when i go back home!!!! cheese + breadcrumbs = huge success !!!
I JUST ate dinner, but I think I'm hungry again! HOLY YUM!!!
NOM + OMG= NOMG= your balls :p lol
YUM!
Alright, so I think I like you even more for posting the Schwetty Balls video! I posted a muffin recipe a few weeks ago and referenced the Betty White version of this NPR skit - also a good one! :)
Thanks for the shout out girlie! these look ammmazzzinnnggg!
Oh this looks so good. My favorite picture is the one with the cheese oozing out. YUM! My friend was just telling me about a fried mozzarella bruschetta she made last night. As if that didn't make me hungry enough, now I see these. Thanks for sharing, visiting from Flaunt it Friday.
Jen
Scissors & Spatulas
Cheesy. I am going to have to recreate this recepie. Maybe even my bf will try it. Right now he thinks that cheese is a 'girl' thing. Couldn't be more wrong!
These look yummy!
You know I have been wanting to do the WIAW for three weeks now, I remember about it until Tuesday and then my mind goes completely blank. I am setting a reminder for myself, I am doing it next week.
Mmmm... these looks so good! Another great recipe for me to try :)
XOXO
I remember that sweaty balls episode...too funny. They really look good.
Oooh, those look so good!
I'd have to say my favorite way to have cheese is fried! But I think I'm going to have to try this way soon!
my favorite way to eat cheese? um...anyway? is that a way? haha.
yum! these look sooooooooooo delicious!
HOLY BALLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, aware that the line above is in all caps and lots of exclaimation marks but this receipe deserves it. Touche, girlfriend!
cheese, pesto, panko...oh yes you're speaking my language!
i could eat those cheesy balls all day!!! no really i could so uh maybe making those is a bad idea. nah i can't resist!
I hate it when my balls defrost too fast. ;-)
This looks amazing (except for the Pesto - I'm allergic to the nuts) - but wow. I'm so glad I am catching up with my blog reading, or I would have missed this!! ~Lori
Yum!! These would be such a good party appetizer!
OMG I laughed so hard.. Those Cheese Balls look delicious..
These look amazing! Better than anything served at a restaurant, my hubby would love these. Thanks!
Wow that looks amazing. I LOVE mozzarella and pesto...I am pretty sure I would have eaten ALL of them.
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oh em geeee! these look amazing! like fancy cheese curds. i can't wait to make these for brad!
These look AMAZING! Oh my gosh... all that melty cheese... so good!
yumyumyum! another delicious post!
Haha! That was the first time I've ever seen that video! Hilarious! I love me a young Alec Baldwin!
"Move quickly so your balls don't begin to defrost." <- because no one likes soggy balls! Bahaha!
Seriously, it's almost 1am and now I am craving balls! Hahaha!
om nom nom, that looks so great! i'm definitely going to try these sometime soon :)
i love cheese in all shapes and sizes and if i weren't trying to lose weight i would probably put it on everything i eat! i think my favorite cheese is mozzarella slices eaten with tomatoes and balsamic vinegar!
This looks awesome, it makes me feel like eating pizza tonight! :)
xoxo,
Addie
The Cat Hag
I love panko, this recipe would be a hit with my grandchildren, yum!!! Hugs and happy Friday
I hadn't seen that SNL before - very funny! Your panko cheese balls look incredible :) XOL
Wow. I don't even eat dairy, but those look...just wow. I'm going to make them for my husband. So that he appreciates me and thanks me for marrying him.
I gotta say....I giggled thru this whole tutorial. Then I saw the video posted at the bottom and cracked up even more. It is one of my FAVS from SNL!
These look so good! I must try this soon!
So I definitely went yesterday and got the hot chili sauce you told me about and I can't wait to try it. Mozzarella is my favorite, balls, sticks, strings, I don't care the form just give me some cheese! Fried and coated in panko is even better!
Um I heart pesto AND you! What a great idea! I bet I could make them gluten free if I find the right kind of GF breadcrumbs. And I love that SNL skit - such a classic.
I am obsessed with Pesto. This sounds amazing!!!
OMG these look delicious!!
These look AMAZING! I always use Panko breadcrumbs as my go to breadcrumbs when I bake! I will most definitely have to try making this very soon!
i absolutely love Panko crumbs :-) i can hardly cook, but in the few dishes i know how to cook i use them :-) hope u have a great weekend!
<3 megan
A Suitcase and Stilettos
Hi!!! follow me!
How did I miss this on Jesica's site? I love cheese :
Oh man...this is a must try! Thanks for sharing!
Oh my gosh, these look absolutely AMAZING!!
These look so much better than mine!!
omg those look so good!!! I love anything pesto :)
hiya , yummmmmmmmy i will try these tomorrow for the starter at mt mothrs day dinner , thank you for sharing
xmaggiex
Anything involving cheese is amazing. Anything involving pesto is fantastic. This? Combining both? I cannot WAIT to try!
Holy yumminess! They look so good! I need one. Or two. Or three. Like, now.
Ok - this has to be one of the most delicious things I have seen all day...and I have been looking...ALOT!! :) You get extra points for the SNL skit too!! If you get a sec, pop on over to Foodie Friday and link up! Oh, and I found you st Fingerprints on the Fridge :)
Those make me hungry and I JUST ate. Thanks for sharing! :)
LOL, that was one of SNL's best skits! I bookmarked this, the highest compliment a blogger gets, those balls look yummy!. Visiting from motivate me Monday!
Carol
omygosh! Making these for sure! You are so good to share with each other We would have done that too....maybe. :)
Oh my gosh!!! These look so amazing!
Yeah, this recipe got IMed to the chef fast!
What a fun idea! I'll have to do this sometime :) I'm about to check out the mozzarella recipe and I'm definitely addicted!!
I'll be needing some of that... you can make me some for my birthday! ;)
Yeah, this recipe got IMed to the chef fast!
Ok - this has to be one of the most delicious things I have seen all day...and I have been looking...ALOT!! :) You get extra points for the SNL skit too!! If you get a sec, pop on over to Foodie Friday and link up! Oh, and I found you st Fingerprints on the Fridge :)
Holy yumminess! They look so good! I need one. Or two. Or three. Like, now.
Oh man...this is a must try! Thanks for sharing!
Hi!!! follow me!
I am obsessed with Pesto. This sounds amazing!!!
These look so good! I must try this soon!
These look AMAZING! Oh my gosh... all that melty cheese... so good!
oh em geeee! these look amazing! like fancy cheese curds. i can't wait to make these for brad!
Wow that looks amazing. I LOVE mozzarella and pesto...I am pretty sure I would have eaten ALL of them.
These look amazing! Better than anything served at a restaurant, my hubby would love these. Thanks!
I hate it when my balls defrost too fast. ;-)
HOLY BALLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, aware that the line above is in all caps and lots of exclaimation marks but this receipe deserves it. Touche, girlfriend!
Oh this looks so good. My favorite picture is the one with the cheese oozing out. YUM! My friend was just telling me about a fried mozzarella bruschetta she made last night. As if that didn't make me hungry enough, now I see these. Thanks for sharing, visiting from Flaunt it Friday.
Jen
Scissors & Spatulas
NOM + OMG= NOMG= your balls :p lol
I JUST ate dinner, but I think I'm hungry again! HOLY YUM!!!
Well, those look pretty awesome. I love anything with pesto. Especially mozzarella.
All your recipes are making me hungry!!!! hehehe
As soon as I saw that picture with the melty cheese, I knew this was a recipe I need to try! YUM.
I was praying that you would featured the "Schweaty Balls" SNL clip at the end of this post.
You never disappoint.
Haha.
Balls.
P.S. I like your black and white plate.
http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
Twitter: @GlamKitten88
Um...yummy!!!! I always get hungry over here...haha!!! Looks and sounds delish!
Happy THursday gurl! xxx
Holy crap, these look freakin' amazing!
hahaha. I SO wanted to post that video when I did my guest post on oreo balls, pb pretzel balls, and rum balls on whatkatie'sbaking and forgot about it. I'm so glad you did!
Well...as you know..I don't eat cheese, but that doesn't make this recipe any less fun. I love the tips on freezing fruits and veggies. I actually took a hair dryer to a clump of frozen strawberries this morning.
Thats one of my fave SNL clips!
Okay those look so yummy, I'm definitely going to try!
This looks SO good! And I love your black and white plates!!
HOLY yum! these look delic. and i just love the snl video... hiiiilarious! xoxo jcd :: cornflake dreams
totally need to make these for my next partay :)
haaaaaa... Jason and I are the same way with counting to be even... I think it's a mix of being NERDS and eating really great food! :)
these look SO good... I want them Right Now. love the pesto addition.
I noticed you crossed out spicy...well...you know. No mention of Alec Baldwin, and the infamous NPR Schwetty...well...you know? For shame...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXSyzeVWueI
Although I will say, that looks mighty tasty. Newlywed or not, I'd fight over that last piece!
And my favorite way to eat cheese?? Melted, gooey, and baked. Usually on top of a meal.
Well, yum, that pretty much rocks my world. Love of mozzerella? Check. Love of pesto? Check. Love of warm gooey cheesey pesto? Triple check!
-poptart (teehee)
Ummm so basically I never ever eat cheese (hello mostly vegan) but I would faaasure make an exception, just for this. If you made them for me, that is.